Velocity measuring device



Oct. 2, 1951 P. J. CAMPBELL VELOCITY MEASURING DEVICE Filed April ll, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Var/'ab/e F requency Pulse l/r/'ab/e 73 Frequency /l Pff/5e Linear Generaor Sweep 50 74 Amp//f/'er 58 Osc//losco/oe .scf//oscope lNvEN-roR SYM gwn ATTORNEY.

Oct. 2, 1951 Filed April ll, 1944 P. J. CAMPBELL VELOCITY MEASURING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 72 Il Pulse Generafar 700 722 lNvENToR PaU/ J, Campbe# ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VELOCITY MEASURING DEVICE Application April 11, 1944, Serial No. 530,483

(Cl. 'i3-194) 13 Claims.

This invention relates to the measurement of fluid streams, and particularly to the measurement of a flow characteristic of a free airstream.

An object of this invention is to prov1de an improved method and apparatus for measuring a flow characteristic, such as velocity or direction of iiow, of an air-stream, and particularly of a free or unconiined airstream.

A further object of this invention is to contribute to the aircraft instrument art an instrument based on a new principle, utilizing ionized air reference regions, for directly measuring airspeed or indicating the nature of the airflow over an airfoil. or for indicating the approach or pressure of a stalling condition.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims, and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate what 1s now considered to be a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an ionizmg device for creating ionized air regions in a freely owingairstream, and an apparatus including an electrical timer for indicating the time required for an ionized air region to travel a known distance.

Fig. l2 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus for determining airspeed by periodically generating ionizing pulses at different frequencies .and measuring or indicating the frequency which provides a predetermined wave length of the resultant ionized air segments.

Figs. 2a and 2b are schematic views of electrical wave forms suitable for use with the apparatus of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing an alternative arrangement.

Figs. 3a and 3b are schematic views of electrical wave forms suitable for use with the apparatus of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus, incorporating a variable speed rotor or commutator having fixed brushes, for determining the time required for an ionized air segment to travel between an ionizing device and a pickup device.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but utilizing a constant speed rotor and adjustable brushes.

Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic cross-sectional views ofan airfoil having an ionizing device and a pickup or detector device thereon for indicating the approach or presence of a stalled condition by determining the nature of the airflow over the airfoil at varying angles of attack.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 'l but showing a modification of the pickup device.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of an airspeed indicator having a pickup which is curved about the spark gap.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a wind tunnel installation, showing how the sending device, or spark gap. and the receiving device or detector, of this invention may be utilized to determine the airflow characteristics of an airfoil.

According to this invention a section or portion of the fluid in a iiowing iiuidstream is ionized to render it electrically distinguishable from the remainder of the fluid in the fluidstream, yet the physical properties of said section or portion are not materially affected. Thus, the flow characteristics of the iluidstream are not materially altered and yet may be measured directly, by electrically sensing the passage or location of the electrically distinguishable fluid portion or ionized fluid region with respect to a point or points which are fixed relative to the luidstream.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a high voltage generator I0 connected with a spark gap I2 through key I5. Gap I2 is positioned in a stream A of ionizable fluid, which may be a freely flowing or unconned fluidstream or airstream, such as the airstream flowing over an aircraft during flight, or it may be a relatively confined iiuidstream. such as an airstream owing through a wind tunnel. The output voltage of generator I0 is made suiiiciently high so that when the key I5 is closed a spark or current will cross gap I2 to ionize or increase the ionization of that portion of the airstream passing through gap I2. If the key I5 is closed only momentarily, or the current flows for only a relatively brief interval. then the ionized air portion will be formed as a segment or region, which does not materially spread or dissipate within the air.- stream but rather will retain an electrically distinguishable form or shape as indicated schematically at S in Fig. 1, at least for a time sufficient to accomplish an airflow measurement according to this invention.

Such a relatively highly ionized air segment has different electrical properties from relatively non-ionized air such as is ordinarily found in the atmosphere. Because the segment S has been found to retain a fairly denite form or shape and has different electrical properties from the surrounding air, one or more of its boundaries may be located or indicated by electrical means. for instance by an antenna pickup or detector device which is sensitive to changes in the electrical conductivity of the airstream.

In Fig. 1 these antennas or pickups I4, I4' are shown as hollow streamlined metal shells or cylinders having electrodes 32, 32' concentric therewith and insulated therefrom. Electrodes 32, 32 extend through openings in the side of the respective pickup shells and are electrically insulated from the shells by being spaced therefrom and by insulating material 34, 34'. Columns 38, 38. of either metal or insulating material, support the respective shells and may, if desired, be electrically shielded to electrically, as well as mechanically, protect inner leads 33, 33' from outside disturban/ces. Leads 33, 33 extend coaxially of the columns 38, 38 and respectively connect ampliiiers I6, I6 with electrodes 32, 32. Leads 33, 33 are electrically insulated fromcolumns 38, 38' by being spaced therefrom, or by an insulating material. Leads 36, 36' electrically connect the shells of detectors I4, I4' with the respective amplifiers I6. I6. When an electrically charged air region S contacts one of the detectors I4, I4 the resulting electrical impulse will be transmitted by either leads 33, 36 or leads 33', 36 to one or the other of ampliers I6, I6.

According to a preferred method of operation, a direct current potential difference, not suiiicient to cause sparking or arcing, is applied across the air gap of each pickup I4, I4 between the elecv amplified by amplifier I6, causing an appreciable n current to flow through leads I1 from amplifier I6 to electrical timer 20, thus starting the timer. When front I8 of segment S passes through pickup I4 a similar impulse is magnified by amplifier IB' and is transmitted to timer 20 through leads 2'I to stop the timer. Indicating needle 22 will assume a position, with respect to scale 24, determined by the interval between the initial actuation of the timer by pickup I4 and the stopping of the timer by pickup I4. Thus the deiiection of the needle along the scale will be a function of the time required for the front I8 of the ionized segment to travel from pickup I4 to pickup I4', and will be a function of the speed of the ionized air segment relative to the pickups.

Because the speed of the ionized air segment is the same as the speed of the airstream, the amount of deflection of indicator 22 will be an indication of the speed of the airstream and scale 24 may, if desired, be calibrated directly in units of airspeed.

In the embodiment shown, the undeflected positionv of the needle is at the left of the scale 24. The movement of the needle is started by pickup I4 and stopped by pickup I4', hence the greater the airspeed the less will be the ,total displacement of the needle toward the right of the scale. Scale 24 is, therefore, arranged to show decreasing speeds for greater needle deiiections. 'I'he timer may be constructed, in a manner known to the art, so that the needle will automatically return to its undeiiected position within a relatively short time after each timing operation, so as to be in condition to time the travel of another ionized segment when switch I5"is again closed, or when another energizing voltage pulse is applied to spark gap I2.

'Ihe ionizing device need not be a spark gap,

as shown in Fig. 1, but may be some other ionizing means known to those skilled in the art, preferably one that may be intermittently automatically operated by periodic electrical impulses. A spark gap energized by high voltage generator has been found particularly suitable for this purpose. For instance. a high voltage generator similar to that used in internal combustion engine ignition systems could be used to energize spark gap I2. An automatically operating mechanical switch or electronic switch (many types of which are known to those skilled in the art) may be used to control or modulate the flow of energy to the gap I2, in place of the manually operated switch I5.

Generator III, amplifiers I6 and I6', and timer 20 are not perse applicants invention but are commerciallyavailable components well known per se to those skilled in the art, hence they are not illustrated in detail. As an example, the timer or chronoscope 2li may be one similar to that disclosed in an article entitled The Chronoscope, at page 28 in the magazine Electronics for November 1940. It should be capable of measuring time intervals between electrical impulses in terms of milli-seconds, or less. Amplifiers I6, I6' should' be capable of transforming small changes in current, such as occur when an ionized region strikes one of the pickups I4,- I4', to relatively large current variations suicient to re a thyratron or other electronic switch associated with timer 20. Vacuum tube amplifiers of the type used commercially in radio and similar circuits are particularly suitable for this purpose.

In the modification of Fig. 2 spark gap I2 is energized by a pulse generator 5U connected with the spark gap through an amplifier 52. Pulse generator incorporates a power source and a pulse circuit, which is preferably designed according to standard circuit practice to provide a periodically modulated high frequency voltage wave, or a series of wave trains, as shown lin Fig. 2a. Or the generator may be designed to provide a periodically fluctuating direct current voltage wave, as shown in Fig. 2b. Pulse circuit 50 and amplifier 52 energize gap I2 periodically or cyclically and by adjusting or tuning the circuit to vary the interval between such pulse, or between each period of spark gap energization, a spark may be created. across gap I2 at selected regular time intervals.v Thus,

the airstream will be periodically ionized by the pulses from generator 50 to form a continuous y series of ionized segments S1, whose frequency passage of an ionized air region over either of thepickups will actuate amplifier 68 vand cause a defiection current to be applied to the vertical plates of cathode ray oscilloscope 66. A source of potential such as battery 64 may be included in the pickup circuit, either separately or as a part of the amplifier 68. Pulse generator 50 is so connected by leads 13 with linear sweep device 'I4 associated with the horizontal deiiection platesl of the oscilloscope that when the pulse generator energizes gap I2 the oscilloscope spot or electron beam will be returned to its starting point at one side of the oscilloscope screen, at the same time one of the ionized segments S1 begins to form, and the spot will be moved relatively slowly across the screen by the linear sweep circuit and then relatively rapidly back toits starting point, as the pulse generator fires, at a frequency equal to the frequency of the ionixatlon.

When any part of any ionized segment is between thel pickup 62 the resulting impedance drop across the electrodes will cause an increased current to flow in the antenna or pickup circuit 10, 12, which will be amplified by amplifier 60 and applied as a potential difference to the vertical sweep plates of the oscilloscope, resutling in upwardly deflected portions 16, 18 in the trace formed by the electron beam as it sweeps back and forth across the screen. When non-ionized air is between the electrodes of both pickup 60 and pickup 62 at the same time then little or no current will flow in the antenna circuit and the vertical plates of the oscilloscope will not be energized; consequently, the spot will drop to a non-deflected position 80. Thus, dip 80 will appear on the oscilloscope screen when nonionized air regions are simultaneously located at both pickups, and this will be the case only when the relation between the frequency of the spark creating pulses and the speed of the airstream is such that the distance between pickup 60 and pickup 62 is either equal to or a multiple of the wave length of the ionized air stream resulting from such pulse frequency. By adjusting the frequency of the pulse generator 50 until the dip 80 shows up on the screen a frequency may be determined that produces an ionized air wave length which is equal to or a submultiple of the distance between detectors 60 and 62. This process may be repeated to determine the value of other pulse frequencies which provide other wave lengths having nonionized or nodal portions spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the pickups. By extrapolation the fundamental frequency, or the lowest pulse frequency which will still produce the dip 80, may be determined and at' this frequency the wave length is equal to the distance between pickups 60, 62. The speed of the airstream may then be computed by utilizing the conventional formula V=LF, both L and F being known, where V is the speed of the airstream, L is the wavelength of the ionized segments and F is the frequency of the pulses. 'Ihis same result may also be produced by varying the distance between the pickups, while maintaining the pulse generator at a constant known frequency, until the dip 80 appears on the screen.

In Fig. 3 the detectors or' pickups 10 and 12 are connected in series with the amplifier 68 and the oscilloscope beam will be deflected by the vertical plates only when ionized air is simultaneously between both detectors and 12. Thus, the trace on the oscilloscope screen will show as a non-deflected line as at 11 and 19 as the spot is swept backwards and forwards by the linear sweep circuit 14. Only when the frequency of the pulse generator is so adjusted that ionized segments S2 are located at both detector 10 and detector 'l2 at the same instant will amplifier 68 be actuated to deflect the spot vertically to form the deflection shown at 8|. At this pulse generator frequency the wave length electrodes of either pickup 60 or of the ionized airstream, or the distance between corresponding portions of two adjacent ionized air segments, will be equal to or a submultiple of the distance between detectors 10 and 12. By determining two or more different pulse generator frequencies at which deflection 8| occurs, the fundamental wave length, or the greatest wave length which will still produce dip 8|, may be determined. Once the wave length of the ionized airstream at a known pulse generator frequency is known. the velocity of the airstream may be computed. In the modification of Fig. 3 the oscilloscope trace is deflected vertically by the passage of ionized air simultaneously past both pickups, while in the modification of Fig. 2 the oscilloscope trace is normally deflected and will dip to the non-deflected position when non-ionized air is simultaneously at both pickups. The width of the vertically deflected portion of the trace will be governed by the length of the individual ionized segments in Fig. 3 and the width of the dip in Fig. 2 will be governed by the length of the individual non-ionized segments.

In the modification of Fig. 4 rotor 80 is driven at a variable speed by any conventional means, such as a variable speed electric motor (not shown). As the rotor revolves commutator bar 82 contacts spaced brushes 84 and 86, closing the circuit including battery 88 and the primary coil of transformer 90. Condenser 92 is connected across the brushes. As the circuit is closed and opened by rotation of the rotor 80, a high voltage will be created in secondary of thetransformer 90, which is made sufficiently high to create a spark discharge across the spark gap I2, electricallycharging or ionizing the airstream flowing in the `direction of the arrows over the gap I2 and forming ionized or charged segments in the airstream. As these segments contact the pickup device, comprising the hollow insulator |06 supporting the spaced electrodes |02, |04, electrical impulses are created in circuit 93 which are'amplied by the amplifier 94. If the circuit 96, on the output side of the amplifier, is closed by the contact of commutator bar |08 with the brushes ||0, ||2, these amplified impulses will be applied to the vertical plates of oscilloscope 66. The trace will, therefore, show a deflection, as at 98, only when an ionized segment is between electrodes |02, |04 at the same time bar |08 is under brushes ||0, ||2. As shown in Fig. 4, the commutator bars 82 and |08 are aligned in position on the rotor 80. Hence, the oscilloscope spot will be deflected as shown at 98 only when the time required for the ionized segment to travel between the spark gap I2 and the pickup electrodes |02, |04 is equal to the time required for the rotor to make one or more complete revolutions. By adjusting the speed of the rotor until the deflected portion 98 of the oscilloscope trace appears, the time required for a charged segment of the airstream to travel the known distance between the ionizing and pickup devices may be determined in terms of rotor revolutions, and as the speed of the rotor may be determined by some known means, such as a tachometer, the speed of the airstream may be computed in terms of conventional airspeed units, or the tachometer may be calibrated in units of airspeed.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 but in this instance the rotor 8| is driven at a constant speed and the brushes and ||3 are adjustable, together. around the circumference of the rotor. In the operation of this modification these brushes are moved around the rotor until the trace on the loscilloscope screen is deflected (as shown at 98 in Fig. 4). The time required for the charged segment to travel the known distance between the sending and pickup devices may then be computed by measuring the time required for commutator bar |08 to travel from its position at the time when commutator bar 82 contacts the sending brushes 84, 86 to the position in which it contacts the receiving brushes III, II3. If the rotor is revolving at a known constant speed and bars 82, |08 are aligned, this time may be readily computed by measuring the distance by which receiving brushes III, |I3 are displaced around the rotor relative to the sending brushes 84, 86 when deflection 98 appears on the oscilloscope screen.

'Ijhe ionizing and detecting devices described above may also be used according to this invention to indicate the presence of a stalled'condition or the approach to a stalled condition of an airfoil. Airflow around an airfoil at normal angles of attack is substantially laminar or streamlined as shown at A in Fig. 6. When the angle of attack of the airfoil is varied beyond a certain point, the airfoil stalls, or the airflow A breaks away from the upper surface of the wing as shown in Fig. 7, the airflow over the -rear or aft portion of the wing becoming turbulent as shown at B in Fig. 7. If the ionizing device I2 and the detector or pickup I4 are positioned as shown in Fig. 6, the ionized segments will travel from the sender I2 over the upper surface of the wing closely adjacent thereto and will be received by the pickup I4. But if the airfoil is stalled, the airflow will be pulled away or will be violently displaced relative to the rearward portions pf the upper surface of the airfoil and the ionized segments will not contact the pickup I4, or else will be so dissipated throughout the airstream as to be incapable of actuating or operating the receiving apparatus. By properly positioning pickup I4 along the upper surface of the airfoil. chordwise thereof, failure of the pickup to produce impulses while the sending device I2 is functioning will indicate the presence of a stalled condition of the airfoil, or preferably the approach of a stalled condition,r depending upon the location of the pickup.

rWhile the stall indicator of Figs. 6 and 7 may be used simultaneously with the speed indicator of Figs. 1 to 5 it may be also used separately as a stall indicator only. Thus, for stall indicating purposes the ionized airstream need not be in longitudinal segments but can be made continuous or uninterrupted in a longitudinal direction. The sender may be continuously energized to constantly ionize a cross-sectional portion of the airstream passing over the upper surface of the airfoil. Under these conditions the pickup will be constantly energized by the charged air as long as the airfoil is within the normal range of angles of attack. When the airfoil exceeds this normal range and approaches the stalled condition, the airflow will begin to pull away or be turbulent at the rear portion 'of the airfoil, displacing the ionized air with respect to the pickup device, resulting in a failure of its indication or interruption of its operation, which may be utilized in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art to actuate a warning device to inform the pilot that .the aircraft is in a dangerous attitude or at a dangerously low speed.

The arrangement of Figs. 6 and 7, Iwhich utilizes thecoaxial or concentric electrode pickups, will also indicate a lateral movement of the ionized airstream relative to the pickup I4, or relative to the aircraft. Thus, this arrangement may also be utilized to indicate a slip or skid of the aircraft, as well as stall. If it is desired to prevent this result, the pickup device can be laterally elongated as shown in Fig. 8. Here the pickup comprises spaced electrical conductors |20, |22 which are insulated from each other and from the sending device I2. A high voltage generator |24 may be used to energize sender I2 and the detector apparatus |26 is connected to conductors |20, |22 to indicate the presence of ionized air between the conductors. Detector |26 may be simply a galvanometer, or`a combined amplifier and micro-ammeter for indicating changes in impedence of the air gap between conductors |20, |22. Conductors |20, |22 preferably lie close to or in the upper contour of the wing |00'and are elongated spanwise thereof. Thus, the charged airstream created by the sender I2 (which may be formed either as a continuous ionized stream in the direction of the airflow or in the form of segments) will contact the electrodes |20, |22 and actuate the detector |26 when the airfoil is within a safe range of angles of attack relative to the airstream, regardless of whether or not the airfoil is skidding or slipping relative to the airstream. Because electrodes |20, |22 are elongated laterally, the detector will still be acuated even though there is some movement of the charged airstream spanwise of the airfoil, after it leaves the sender I2. But when the airfoil approaches the stalled condition, the charged airstream will be deflected upwardly with respect to the airfoil, away from the conductors |20, |22 and the resulting cessation of the current flow to the detector may be utilized to operate a warning signal.

A variation of this same principle may be utilized as shown in Fig. 9. Here the conductors |2I, |23, supported on insulator blocks |30, |32, are disposed spanwise of the Yairfoil and are curved about the sender I2 so that deflections of the charged airstream from a chordwise direction after it is created by the sender I2 will not affect the operation of the pickup 2 I, |23. As a further modification, the voltage pulse from generator |34 which energizes the sender I2 also` starts the timer |36, the generator and the timer being electrically connected. When the resulting ionized segment hits the pickup |2I, |23 the timex- |36 is stopped, thus indicating the time interval between the sending pulse and the receiving pulse, which is equal to the time required for the ionized segment, or the front boundary thereof, to travel from the spark gap tothe pickup electrodes. Thus the timer is started by the sending pulse and stopped by the receiving pulse and only one pickup need be used rather than two as shown in Figs. 1-3. Generator |34 may be constructed, in known manner, to provide periodic voltage trains or pulses, for automatically repeating airspeed measurements. In this modiflcation, as well as that of Fig. 1, the sending pulses may be spaced at suiciently great intervals and may be of suilciently short duration to permit each ionized segment-to pass the pickup or pickups and enable the receiving or indicating apparatus to completely clear itself, or return to its sensitive condition, before the next ionized segment is created. 'Ihus the detecing operation may be done in the intervals between the sending pulses, and electrical interference effects consequently avoided.

The flow direction principle applied to Figs. 6, 7 and 8 as a stall, slip, or skid indicating device may also be utilized for other purposes, as shown in Fig. 10. Here the wind tunnel |50 provides an airflow over airfoil |52. The sender I2 and pickup I4 are mounted on movable supports |54, |56, respectively, so that the direction of the airow may be determined relativeV to the airfoil |52 by creating ionized air portions at a selected position within the airstream, the direction of flow being indicated by moving "pickup |4 until an indication is noted, on a galvanometer or other electrical indicating device.

By this invention airspeeds may be measured directly, and, therefore, with extreme accuracy, by electrically timing the travel of a portion of the airstream itself. The invention is particularly adaptable to measuring very high airspeeds, even above the speed of sound, at which conventional airspeed indicators become practically useless.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein illustrated and described, but may be used ln other ways without departure from its spirit as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An aircraft flight instrument comprising, means including an electrical pulse generator for intermittently ionizing the air in the airstream flowing over the aircraft to form segments of ionized air in said airstream, and electrical timer means connected with said generator and operative in the intervals between the pulses generated by said generator including cooperating sensing elements located downstream of the point of ionization for detecting said ionized segments.

2. An aircraft flight instrument comprising,

`means including an electrical voltage pulse generator for intermittently ionizing the air in the airstream flowing over the aircraft, a timer connected with said generator to be started by each said pulse, and electrical means located downstream of said ionizing means and actuated by the passage of ionized air for stopping said timer.

3. An airspeed indicator comprising, an ionizing devicedisposed in a flowing airstream Whose speed is to be measured, means including a rotating switch mechanism for periodically energizing said ionizing device and ionizing intermittent portions of the stream, ldetecting means located downstream of said ionizing device including at least one electrical pickup, and electrical means including said rotating switch mechanis for comparing the electrical conductivity of respective portions of the airstream which have passed over said ionizing device and said pickup, said electrical means being operatively connected to said pickup and responsive to the ionized portions of said stream.

4. An instrument for measuring the velocity of an airstream comprising means for ionizing portions of said airstream to generate ionized air segments in said airstream at known regular intervals comprising a variable frequency source of power, and means for measuring the wavelength of the resulting intermittently ionized airstream comprising means located downstream of said ionizing means for sensing said variations, and means interconnecting said ionizing means and said sensing means for indicating an out of phase relationship between said ionizing an sensing means.

5. In an air velocity indicating device, a pair of spaced apart pickups comprising impedance sensing elements. means connected with said l0 pickups for indicating the wavelength oi' a periodically ionized airstream passing over said pickups, and means for periodically ionizing said airstream at a variable frequency of ionization vincluding elements located upstream of said pickups and a variable frequency source of power, said source of power and said pickups 'being operatively connected to said indicating means.

6. In combination, electrical means for creating a boundary region in a free flowing airstream between respective portions of relatively high ionic density and relatively low ionic density including a source of interruptable electrical power, and means for indicating the time interval during the passage of said boundary region between points xed relative to said airstream comprising an electrical timer, electrical elements located downstream of said boundary creating means, said elements being sensitive to impedance variations in said stream as said portions flow thereby, and electrical means interconnecting said elements and said timer.

7. An airspeed indicator comprising, a spark gap positioned in the airstream whose speed is to be measured, an electrical device for energizing said spark gap with pulses of electrical energy, a pickup responsive to ionized air on the downstream side of said spark gap, and an electrical timer responsive to the electrical pulses energizing said spark gap and operatively connected to said pickup for indicating the time interval required for ionized air to iiow from said spark gap to said pickup.

8. An airspeed indicator comprising, means for momentarily, electrically ionizing a region of determinable length of the air composing a free flowing airstream whose speed is to be measured including an electrical spark gap located in said stream, a source of interruptable electrical power operatively connected to said gap, electrical means located downstream of and substantially in line with said gap along the axis of flow of said airstream for detecting the presence of said ionized region including a pair of cooperating electrical impedance sensing units spaced a predetermined distance from said gap along the axis of said stream for sensing variations of impedance of the stream owing thereby, and electrical indicator means for indicating the time interval required for said ionized region to travel a predetermined distance along the axis of flow comprising an electrical indicator and including elements responsive to variations of impedance electrically interconnecting said electrical units with said indicator for energizing the latter.

9. An airspeed indicator comprising means for intermittently electrically ionizing a portion of the air composing a free flowing airstream whose speed is to be measured including an electrical gap located in said stream, said ionized portion being of determinable length along the axis of air ow, a source of electrical power operatively connected to said vgap including switch means for interrupting the iiow of power to said electrical gap, electrical detecting means located downstream of and substantially in line with said gap along the axis of air ow for detecting the presence of said ionized portionA including axially spaced pickups, said pickups comprising coaxially disposed conductors radially spaced from each other forming an air gap subject to variations in impedance when said ionized portions pass therethrough, and electrical indicator means for indicating the time interval required for said ionized portions to travel a predetermined distance comprising an electrical timer including elements responsive to said variations in impedance operatively interconnecting said pickups.

10. In a measuring device for measuring the speed oi' a owing iluid stream, means for electrically ionizing intermittent portions ci the stream along the axis of flow including a source of electrical power therefor, electrical detecting means located downstream of said ionizing means and substantially along said axis for detecting the-movement of said ionized portions including at least one electrical pickup, said pickup comprising spaced lelectrically insulated elements forming a fluid gap subject to variations of impedance'upon movement of said ionized portions therethrough, and electrical means for indicating the velocity of said portions between a predetermined point relative to said stream and said pickup including electrical mechanism operatively connected to said pickup and responsive to a variation oi impedance of the iiuld between said elements.

11. A measuring device for determining the relative movement between' a body and a iiuid comprising means for ionizing intermittent portions of fluid along the axis of travel including a source of electrical power therefor, electrical detecting means spaced a predetermined distance from said ionizing means and substantially along said axis, said detecting means comprising an electrical ionization pickup for creating an impulse upon relative movement of, an ionized portion therethrough, an electrical time interval measuring means, electrical control means for actuating said time interval measuring means upon creation of said ionizing intermittent portions and for deactuating said time interval measuring means upon reception of said impulse, and indicating means to indicate the time interval between the actuation and deactuation of said time interval measuring means.4

12. In a measuring device for measuring the 'l2 tive movement including a source of electrical power therefor, electrical detecting means located downstream of said ionizing means and substantially along said path for detecting the movement of said ionized portions including at least one electrical pickup, and electricall means speed of relative movement between a body and n for indicating the velocity of relative movement oi said body and said portions between a predetermined point along said path and said pickup, said electrical means being operatively connected to said pickup and responsive to the ionized portion of the iiuid.

13. A combined speed, stall and slip indicator for an aircraft comprising, means for intermittently ionizing a relatively small cross-sectional area of the airstream passing over the upper surface of the aircraft airfoil to formla streak of ionized air segments in said airstream, pickup rreans' located so as to be within said streak during normal airflow'conditions vover said airfoil and spaced from said streak when said airstream is displaced relative to said airfoil from its normal path by a stall or slip, and a timing apparatus connected to said pickup means and responsive to the passage of said segments past said pickup means. u

PAUL J. CAMPBELL.

REFERENCES CITED AThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name` Date 1,411,796 Meyer Apr. 4, 1922 1,611,502 Allen Dec. 21, 1926 1,616,481 Allen Feb. 8, 1927 1,808,709 Blake June 2, 1931 1,881,543 Hartig et a1. Oct. 1l, 1932 2,151,203 Hartig Mar. 21, 1939 2,328,546 Carfarelli Sept. 7, 1943 2,353,382 Barrett July 11, 1944 

